Sakura and the Yokai Vortex

Following the mandala's instructions, the group ventured into a dense bamboo forest. Kaze, with his bamboo flute, played an enchanting melody that seemed to open paths between the tall reeds. Suddenly, the vegetation opened before them, revealing a hidden valley where an extraordinary city stood.
Kitsunegari, the Hidden City, was a labyrinth of wooden houses with tiled roofs and paper lanterns that illuminated the streets with a warm light. Yokai from different clans strolled through the streets: tanuki with their big bellies, kappa with their turtle shells, oni with their menacing horns, and even the occasional lower-ranking tengu, all coexisting in a mixture of harmony and tension.
Kaze, as if he were a regular in the place, guided them with ease through the labyrinthine streets. He explained that Kitsunegari was ruled by a council of elders from different clans, and that the city was an important center of trade and cultural exchange in the Shadowlands.
"But not everything is peace and harmony here," Kaze warned them with a wink. "Rivalries between clans are frequent, and betrayals are the order of the day. We must be careful who we trust."
Yumi, with her sharpened instincts, watched Kaze suspiciously. She couldn't help but feel that the tanuki was hiding something from them. However, Ren and Kiko seemed to fully trust him, and Ayame remained impassive, as if nothing could disturb her calm.
Kaze led them to the palace of the Tanuki clan, an imposing wooden structure with a garden full of stone lanterns and ponds with golden carp. There, they were received by the leader of the clan, an elderly tanuki with a white beard and cunning eyes.
After a welcoming ceremony with tea and traditional sweets, the tanuki leader asked them about their purpose in Kitsunegari. Ren, with Kaze's help as a translator, explained that they were looking for information about his sister Aiko, who had been kidnapped by the Tengu.
The elderly tanuki listened attentively, and then told them that the information they were looking for could be found in the clan library, a collection of ancient books and scrolls that held the secrets of the Shadowlands. He granted them access to the library, on the condition that they not reveal any confidential information to outsiders.
While Ren, Kiko, and Yumi immersed themselves in the library, Kaze met privately with the tanuki leader. With a false smile and sweet words, he offered him a deal: in exchange for information about a magical artifact that was in the city, he would hand over Ren and his friends, who could be used as bargaining chips in negotiations with other clans.
The tanuki leader, tempted by the offer, accepted the deal. Unknowingly, he had just condemned Ren and his friends to even greater danger.
Meanwhile, in the library, Ren and Kiko were getting closer and closer. Surrounded by ancient books and mysterious scrolls, they shared laughter and confidences. Kiko, with her usual mischief, mocked Ren's clumsiness in deciphering the ancient texts, and Ren, blushing, admired the kitsune's intelligence and cunning.
Yumi, watching them from a distance, felt a pang of jealousy in her heart. She couldn't deny that she was attracted to Ren, but at the same time she reproached herself for having those feelings. She knew that her mission was to protect Aiko, and that she couldn't afford distractions.
That night, the city was illuminated with the Kitsunebi festival. The streets were filled with yokai celebrating with music, dancing and fireworks. Ren and Kiko, carried away by the joy of the festival, moved away from the group and got lost in the crowd.
They walked together through the illuminated streets, marveling at the spectacle of lights and colors. Kiko, with her nine tails waving gracefully, moved easily through the crowd, while Ren, dazzled by the beauty of the kitsune and the magic of the festival, followed her with a smile on his face.
They reached a bridge that crossed a river of crystal clear waters, where hundreds of paper lanterns floated in the current. Kiko stopped to contemplate the spectacle, and Ren, taking the opportunity, approached her shyly.
"Kiko," he said softly, "this... is beautiful."
Kiko turned to him, her golden eyes shining under the light of the lanterns. "Yes, it is," she replied with a smile. "It's a magical night."
Ren, feeling his heart pounding, took Kiko's hand. The kitsune did not resist, and her fingers intertwined with his.
"Kiko," Ren said with a trembling voice, "I..."
At that moment, a roar interrupted them. A group of drunken yokai approached them, shouting and pushing people. One of them, a large oni with a menacing appearance, noticed Kiko and approached her with a lewd smile.
"Well, well," said the oni in a hoarse voice, "what do we have here? A beautiful kitsune. Fancy having some fun?"
Kiko, sensing the danger, moved away from the oni with a growl. Ren, filled with anger, stood between them.
"Leave her alone," he said firmly.
The oni let out a laugh. "And who are you, little human? Her protector?"
Ren drew the divine sword, and the blade shone with a bluish light. The oni, surprised by the appearance of the sword, took a step back.
"I don't want any trouble," said the oni with less confidence.
But his companions, encouraged by alcohol, pushed him forward. "Don't be a coward," they told him. "Teach that human a lesson."
The oni, forced to maintain his image in front of his friends, attacked Ren with a roar. Ren, with Kiko's help, defended himself bravely. The battle was short but intense, and finally, Ren managed to disarm the oni and put him to flight.
Kiko, impressed by Ren's bravery, hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Ren," she said in an excited voice. "You saved me."
Ren, his heart pounding, returned the hug. "You're welcome, Kiko," he said with a smile. "I will always protect you."
At that moment, they both realized that their faces were very close. Their eyes met, and a silence charged with emotion enveloped them. Ren, without thinking twice, leaned in and kissed Kiko passionately.
Kiko, surprised at first, returned the kiss with the same intensity. Their lips melted into a tender and passionate kiss, under the light of the lanterns and fireworks.
Yumi, who had been looking for them in the crowd, found them at that precise moment. Seeing them kissing, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. Her jealousy, which she had been repressing, surfaced with force. Without saying anything, she turned and was lost in the crowd, her heart broken and tears threatening to overflow.
Meanwhile, Kaze, who had been watching the scene from the shadows, smiled maliciously. His plan was working perfectly. Betrayal was approaching, and soon it would test the bonds of friendship and love that united the group.
Hello everyone,
I'm Esteban Garofano, author of Sakura and the Yokai Vortex. I want to thank all of you for supporting me on this wonderful journey. Thank you for being present and attentive to the creation of this wonderful novel. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am, and speaking of the novel, what did you think of chapter 22? Oh my gosh, this is getting more and more exciting! Do you think Kiko and Ren are destined to be together? What do you think of Kaze's impending betrayal? I'll be reading you in the comments. Happy New Year's Eve to all.
Best regards,
Esteban Garofano